Template for an Apologetics Speech - Meaning & Significance Question

Every good speaker remembers to 1) Tell the audience what they are going to tell them.  2) Tell them.  3) Tell them what you just told them.

At the beginning add a hook,  introduce yourself, and let audience know what question you will be answering.
At the end recap, conclude, end decisively 
____________________________________________________________
INTRO – MANY TIMES YOU WILL WRITE THIS LAST
                  This is in place to "hook" the audience's interest
                  The hook might also be called an opener or teaser. It could be:
                  Scripture
                  Story or
                  Quote
DO NOT FINISH IT – LEAVE SOMETHING TO COME BACK TO AT THE END!

INTRODUCE YOURSELF & ANNOUNCE Q:
Hello, my name is ___________ and I would like to discuss the meaning and significance of __________________   OR
Hello, my name is ________________ and I have drawn the question, "What is the meaning and significance of __________________ ?" 

1) Tell the audience what they are going to tell them.
I will address this question through 3 points
Meaning
Significance
Application (with a Call to Action)

2) Tell them.
POINT 1) MEANING: define
________________ means / is defined as / _________________________.
      Quote your source if applicable

POINT 2) SIGNIFICANCE:
Why is this important?
You can elaborate to explain.
~What would happen if we did not believe or have this? Or, if this did not exist.

Who is “WE?” . . . . . . Believers / Christians / Catholics / a Nation / Brothers and Sisters in Christ / Children of God / a people /-- decide which and proceed accordingly. Make sure your audience knows (It is always helpful if you know your audience.)

Use Quotes, Scripture, Common Sense, etc.

POINT 3) APPLICATION (possible CALL TO ACTION):
What should I do with this? How does this apply to _______ (Us? You? Me?) Remember again to consider your audience -- and proceed accordingly.
What should we do? Is there a  “call to action”? If so, what it is it?
Because _____________________ we should ______________________.
Prepare to transition into tying this back to your INTRO

3) Tell them what you just told them.
4) RE-CAP and/or “In Conclusion” 
Let’s re-cap: 
We (have) looked at the meaning of ____________________
We (have) looked at its significance (____________________)
And we (have) looked at how this applies to us ( _________ ) 

FAST VERSION ~>  “To conclude let me (recap or) remind you that we have examined the meaning, significance, and application (with a call to action) of ________________________”     OR
In Conclusion, we have looked at ____________________________

TELL THE REST OF THE INTRO STORY HERE or @ very end 
In which way would it be more memorable/interesting/meaningful? 

END DECISIVELY WITH a Scripture or Quote (or repeat a major one / a powerful one / a completely logical one, etc.)
Or, GIVE THE REST OF THE INTRO STORY HERE (if not done in the re-cap)

Then say, “Thank you for your time and attention.” (or something close to that)


____________________________________________________________

Here are some of the choices that are included in the 100 questions:

What is the meaning and significance of the image of God?

What is the meaning and significance of original sin?

What is the meaning and significance of the virgin birth?

What is the meaning and significance of Original Sin?

What is the meaning and significance of the Incarnation?

What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Word of God?

What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Lamb of God?

What is the meaning and significance of Biblical canon?
____________________________________________________________

IN A NUTSHELL:

These are all above in RED 
1a) INTRO w/ hook
1b) Introduce self
1c) Announce the Q you will answer

2a) Meaning
2b) Significance
2c) Application/Call to Action

3a) ReCap and/or Conclusion (Finish story / Repeat / Reiterate)
3b) Make Sure You End Decisively 
3c) Say,“Thank you”

100 Questions NCFCA

NCFCA APOLOGETICS TOPICS 

Category 1: EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF GOD    
Definitions  
General Questions 
Statement Analysis
Category 2: SCRIPTURES
Definitions  
General Questions 
Statement Analysis
Category 3: THE NATURE PURPOSE AND DESTINY OF MAN
Definitions  
General Questions 
Statement Analysis
Category 4: SALVATION or HOW TO KNOW GOD
Definitions  
General Questions 
Statement Analysis
Category 5: THE PERSON OF CHRIST
Definitions  
General Questions 
Statement Analysis
  

Category 1: EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF GOD

Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of the trinity.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of the omniscience of God.

3. Explain the meaning and significance of the omnipotence of God.

4. Explain the meaning and significance of the omnipresence of God

5. Explain the meaning and significance of the transcendence of God

6. Explain the meaning and significance of the immanence of God.

7. Explain the meaning and significance of the eternality of God.

8. Explain the meaning and significance of the immutability of God.

9. Explain the meaning and significance of the infinite nature of God.

10. Explain the meaning and significance of the holiness of God.

11. Explain the meaning and significance of the righteousness of God.

12. Explain the meaning and significance of the justice of God.

13. Explain the meaning and significance of the sovereignty of God.

14. Explain the meaning and significance of the mercy of God.

15. Explain the meaning and significance of the grace of God.

General Questions

1. In what ways has God revealed Himself to man?

2. If God is real, why can’t people see or touch Him?

3. If God is holy, why did He allow sin in the world?

4. How can God be both merciful and just?

5. How can God be one and yet three (unity versus trinity)?

6. Open theology states that God is constantly changing and growing with His creation.
Respond to this Biblically.

7. Open theology states that God is constantly growing and changing with His creation.
Respond to this logically and pragmatically.

8. Why is the unchanging nature of God critical to who He is?

Statement Analysis
Analyze and respond to the following statement:

1. “The existence of God and of a future life is everywhere recognized in Africa.”  ~~David Livingstone

2.  “The Old Testament God is a God of hate while the New Testament God is a God of love.”

3.  “Gods are fragile things. They may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense.” ~~Chapman Cohen

4. “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.”  ~~Voltaire

5.  “What we believe about God is the most important thing about us.”  ~~A.W. Tozer

6. “God is merely an impersonal force in the universe. He is untouchable and unapproachable.”

7.  “God set the universe in motion but He has no interest in it.”

8. “If God understands my humanity and sin nature better than I do, why does He still hold me accountable for what I cannot help doing?”


Category 2: SCRIPTURES

Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of inerrancy.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture.

3. Explain the meaning and significance of divine inspiration.

4. Explain the meaning and significance of Biblical canon.

5. Explain the meaning and significance of higher criticism and lower criticism.

General Questions

1. Jesus clearly demonstrated His belief in the authority of Scriptures.
Defend this statement with evidence.

2. If the Bible was written by men, how could it also be written by God?

3. How did The Church decide what should be included in the canon of Scripture?

4. How can the Bible be trustworthy when it has been translated so many times?

5. What is the foundation for accurate Bible translation?

6. Provide evidence for the historical accuracy of the Bible.

Statement Analysis
Analyze and respond to the following statement:

1. "No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says; he is always convinced that it says what he means.”  ~~~George Barnard Shaw

2.  “The Bible is no different than any other holy book.”

3. “The Bible is simply the work of a great conspiracy, where people sought to create a religion of their own.”

4.  “The Old Testament is merely a set of myths made up by the Jewish people to establish a national identity and give themselves a feeling of superiority.”


Category 3: THE NATURE PURPOSE & DESTINY OF MAN

Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of the image of God.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of the depravity of man.

3. Explain the meaning and significance of original sin.

4. Explain the meaning and significance of the sin nature.

5. Explain the meaning and significance of sanctification.

6. Explain the meaning and significance of repentance.

7. Explain the meaning and significance of regeneration.

General Questions

1. Do all men have a longing for God?

2. Do all men have a conscience?

3. If God is invisible, (1 Timothy 1:17) how can man be made in the image of God?

4. If man is inherently sinful, why do most men lead relatively good lives?

5. What is the purpose of man?

6. What is the destiny of man?

7. Why would a loving God create hell?
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=716437 

8. What is the essential duty of man?

9. What is meant by the "fall of man"?

Statement Analysis
Evaluate and respond to the following statement:

1.  “All men were born with ten fingers and toes but no one was born with the knowledge of God.” ~~Voltaire

2.  “…whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”  ~~Galatians 6:7

3.  “Heaven is only a state of mind.”

4.  “He’s only human.” (as a justification for sin and the need for leniency).

5.  “When man dies, he simply ceases to exist. There is no immortality or eternal life.”


Category 4: SALVATION or HOW TO KNOW GOD

Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of justification.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of atonement.

3. Explain the meaning and significance of propitiation.

4. Explain the meaning and significance of redemption.

General Questions

1. How can a man know God?

2. Can a man become right with God by keeping the Ten Commandments?

3. Isn't it narrow minded to believe there is only one way to heaven?

4. Why does man need salvation?

Statement Analysis   
Analyze and respond to the following statement:

1.  “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.”

2.  “There are many roads to God.”

3.  “Every charitable act is a stepping stone to heaven.”   ~~Henry Ward Beecher

4.  “I commune best with God when I am out in nature. I don’t need organized religion or a list of do’s and don’ts.”

5.  “I know that all of the good vibes he sent out will return to carry him off to a better place.”   ~~Comment made after to death of Bob Hope

6. “Christianity is the opiate of the masses.”  ~~Karl Marx

7. “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except though me.’”


Category 5: THE PERSON OF CHRIST

Definitions

1. What is the meaning and significance of the deity of Christ?

2. What is the meaning and significance of the virgin birth?

3. What is the meaning and significance of the Incarnation?

4. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus’ claim that He is “the Son of Man?”

5. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus’ claim that He is “the Son of God?”

6. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Mediator?

7. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Messiah?

8. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Word if God?

9. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Lamb of God?

General Questions

1. Why is the resurrection essential to the Christian faith?

2. If God is infinite, how could He limit Himself in the person of Christ?

3. How could Jesus be both God and man?

4. Why did Jesus have to die to provide salvation for men?

5. What evidence is there for the historical existence of Jesus?

6. What evidence is there for the resurrection of Jesus?

7. Did Jesus attain deity by His sacrificial death or was He God from the beginning?

Statement Analysis 
Analyze and respond to the following statement:

1.  “Jesus’ life and death are merely examples to us that we should all live sacrificial lives.”
 

2.  “Jesus was a good man and a good teacher but certainly not the Son of God.”

Tournament Directors will make selections from the topics posted on this site for use in league sanctioned competition.

5 Qs About Mary & A Wild Card Question

1) The Bible says "all have sinned." How can you believe that Mary was without sin? So, do Catholics believe that Mary did not need Jesus to be her Savior?

2) Why do Catholics believe Mary was so special . . . . she isn't even mentioned in the Old Testament. She is hardly mentioned in the New Testament.

3) The Bible says that Jesus had brothers and sisters. That proves Mary was not a perpetual virgin. Why do Catholics believe that? What's the big deal if she was or wasn't?

4) Why do Catholics worship Mary? For example, you say that prayer called, "Hail Mary." You have statues and pictures of her in your church and in your houses. You pray to her.

5) Why do you call Mary the New Eve and the Ark of the New Covenant?

WILD CARD: How can you prove the existence of God with this argument called "DESIGN"?



In addition to the CIA & SWAT websites, see also:
http://catholicbridge.com/catholic/martin_luther_on_mary.php
http://catholicbridge.com/catholic/mary_in_the_bible.php
http://www.catholicbridge.com/

The Argument From DESIGN - Existence of God

Christopher Stefanick 
   



Catholic Religion Teacher Series:


The Argument from Design from Catholic Religion Teacher on Vimeo.


Terms to understand (in the context of our argument):
1) Theist: one who believes in God (as the creator of the universe)

2) Atheist: one who does not believe in God (as the creator of the universe)

3) Premise: the base of an argument (the concept or statement or proposition) from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion

4) Evolution does NOT support atheism

5) Natural Selection - survival of the fittest

6) ANTHROPIC PRINCIPAL: the universe was specially designed from the beginning for human life to evolve (happen). . . . . specially designed for human life

7) PRINCIPLE OF CAUSALITY: can't get more in an effect than in sum total of all causes. Examples: 

• 4+1+2=7 
• Painting with red and blue gives you red, blue, and/or purple (you can't get yellow) 

If there is intelligence in effect (humans), there must be intelligence in the cause.

8) GOLDILOCKS PRINCIPLE: "just right" 
This is closely related to the ANTHROPIC PRINCIPLE

9) Teleological Argument: 
another term that means Argument from Design
The teleological or physico-theological argument, also known as the argument from design, or intelligent design argument is an argument for the existence of God or, more generally, for an intelligent creator "based on perceived evidence of deliberate design in the natural or physical world"

10) Syllogism: ˈsiləˌjizəm

1. A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn (whether validly or not) from two given or assumed propositions (premises), each of which shares a term with the conclusion, and shares a common or middle term not present in the conclusion (e.g., all dogs are animals; all animals have four legs; therefore all dogs have four legs ).

   • deductive reasoning as distinct from induction.

     "logic is rules or syllogism
   • 
     
   • OUR SYLLOGISM:

Premise 1: The more complex something is, the more likely it is a product of design (and not chance).

Premise 2: The universe (& many things within it) are infinitely more complex than all man made designs.

Conclusion: Therefore, the universe is a product of design (and not chance). The designer behind the universe is what we call God.

http://catholicreligionteacher.com/existence-of-god/ 
KEYNOTES (slides)  https://catholicreligionteacher.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/the-argument-from-design-keynote-pdf3.pdf

Mrs. Cortez' sources:
Taylor Marshall's Thomas Aquinas in 50 Pages
Kreeft's Arguments For God (specific)
Kreeft's Arguments For God  (broader)

Call No Man Father

Many Protestants claim that when Catholics address priests as "father," they are engaging in an unbiblical practice that Jesus forbade: "Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven" (Matt. 23:9). 

~~> In his tract 10 Reasons Why I Am Not a Roman Catholic, Fundamentalist anti-Catholic writer Donald Maconaghie quotes this passage as support for his charge that "the papacy is a hoax." 


~~> Bill Jackson, another Fundamentalist who runs a full-time anti-Catholic organization, says in his book Christian’s Guide To Roman Catholicism that a "study of Matthew 23:9 reveals that Jesus was talking about being called father as a title of religious superiority . . . [which is] the basis for the [Catholic] hierarchy" (53). 

How should Catholics respond to such objections? 

The Answer

To understand why the charge does not work, one must first understand the use of the word "father" in reference to our earthly fathers. No one would deny a little girl the opportunity to tell someone that she loves her father. Common sense tells us that Jesus wasn’t forbidding this type of use of the word "father." 
In fact, to forbid it would rob the address "Father" of its meaning when applied to God, for there would no longer be any earthly counterpart for the analogy of divine Fatherhood. The concept of God’s role as Father would be meaningless if we obliterated the concept of earthly fatherhood. 

But in the Bible the concept of fatherhood is not restricted to just our earthly fathers and God. It is used to refer to people other than biological or legal fathers, and is used as a sign of respect to those with whom we have a special relationship. 

For example, Joseph tells his brothers of a special fatherly relationship God had given him with the king of Egypt: "So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 45:8). 

Job indicates he played a fatherly role with the less fortunate: "I was a father to the poor, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know" (Job 29:16). And God himself declares that he will give a fatherly role to Eliakim, the steward of the house of David: "In that day I will call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah . . . and I will clothe him with [a] robe, and will bind [a] girdle on him, and will commit . . . authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah" (Is. 22:20–21). 

This type of fatherhood not only applies to those who are wise counselors (like Joseph) or benefactors (like Job) or both (like Eliakim), it also applies to those who have a fatherly spiritual relationship with one. For example, Elisha cries, "My father, myfather !" to Elijah as the latter is carried up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kgs. 2:12). Later, Elisha himself is called a father by the king of Israel (2 Kgs. 6:21). 

A Change with the New Testament?

Some Fundamentalists argue that this usage changed with the New Testament—that while it may have been permissible to call certain men "father" in the Old Testament, since the time of Christ, it’s no longer allowed. This argument fails for several reasons. 

First, as we’ve seen, the imperative "call no man father" does not apply to one’s biological father. It also doesn’t exclude calling one’s ancestors "father," as is shown in Acts 7:2, where Stephen refers to "our father Abraham," or in Romans 9:10, where Paul speaks of "ourfather  Isaac." 

Second, there are numerous examples in the New Testament of the term "father" being used as a form of address and reference, even for men who are not biologically related to the speaker. There are, in fact, so many uses of "father" in the New Testament, that the Fundamentalist interpretation of Matthew 23 (and the objection to Catholics calling priests "father") must be wrong, as we shall see. 

Third, a careful examination of the context of Matthew 23 shows that Jesus didn’t intend for his words here to be understood literally. The whole passage reads, "But you are not to be called ‘rabbi,’ for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called ‘masters,’ for you have one master, the Christ" (Matt. 23:8–10). 

The first problem is that although Jesus seems to prohibit the use of the term "teacher," in Matthew 28:19–20, Christ himself appointed certain men to be teachers in his Church: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." 

Paul speaks of his commission as a teacher: 
 ~~> "For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle . . . a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth" (1 Tim. 2:7); 
~~> "For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher" (2 Tim. 1:11). 
He also reminds us that the Church has an office of teacher: 
~~> "God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers" (1 Cor. 12:28); and "his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers" (Eph. 4:11). 

There is no doubt that Paul was not violating Christ’s teaching in Matthew 23 by referring so often to others as "teachers." 

Fundamentalists themselves slip up on this point by calling all sorts of people "doctor," for example, medical doctors, as well as professors and scientists who have Ph.D. degrees (i.e., doctorates). What they fail to realize is that "doctor" is simply the Latin word for "teacher." Even "Mister" and "Mistress" ("Mrs.") are forms of the word "master," also mentioned by Jesus. So if his words in Matthew 23 were meant to be taken literally, Fundamentalists would be just as guilty for using the word "teacher" and "doctor" and "mister" as Catholics for saying "father." But clearly, that would be a misunderstanding of Christ’s words. 

So What Did Jesus Mean?

Jesus criticized Jewish leaders who love "the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called ‘rabbi’ by men" (Matt. 23:6–7). His admonition here is a response to the Pharisees’ proud hearts and their grasping after marks of status and prestige. 
He was using hyperbole (exaggeration to make a point) to show the scribes and Pharisees how sinful and proud they were for not looking humbly to God as the source of all authority and fatherhood and teaching, and instead setting themselves up as the ultimate authorities, father figures, and teachers. 

Christ used hyperbole often, for example when he declared, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell" (Matt. 5:29, cf. 18:9; Mark 9:47). Christ certainly did not intend this to be applied literally, for otherwise all Christians would be blind amputees! (cf. 1 John 1:8; 1 Tim. 1:15). We are all subject to "the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). 

Since Jesus is demonstrably using hyperbole when he says not to call anyone our father—else we would not be able to refer to our earthly fathers as such—we must read his words carefully and with sensitivity to the presence of hyperbole if we wish to understand what he is saying. 

Jesus is not forbidding us to call men "fathers" who actually are such—either literally or spiritually. (See below on the apostolic example of spiritual fatherhood.) To refer to such people as fathers is only to acknowledge the truth, and Jesus is not against that. He is warning people against inaccurately attributing fatherhood—or a particular kind or degree of fatherhood—to those who do not have it. 

As the apostolic example shows, some individuals genuinely do have a spiritual fatherhood, meaning that they can be referred to as spiritual fathers. What must not be done is to confuse their form of spiritual paternity with that of God. Ultimately, God is our supreme protector, provider, and instructor. Correspondingly, it is wrong to view any individual other than God as having these roles. 

Throughout the world, some people have been tempted to look upon religious leaders who are mere mortals as if they were an individual’s supreme source of spiritual instruction, nourishment, and protection. The tendency to turn mere men into "gurus" is worldwide. 

This was also a temptation in the Jewish world of Jesus’ day, when famous rabbinical leaders, especially those who founded important schools, such as Hillel and Shammai, were highly exalted by their disciples. It is this elevation of an individual man—the formation of a "cult of personality" around him—of which Jesus is speaking when he warns against attributing to someone an undue role as master, father, or teacher. 

He is not forbidding the perfunctory use of honorifics nor forbidding us to recognize that the person does have a role as a spiritual father and teacher. The example of his own apostles shows us that. 

The Apostles Show the Way

The New Testament is filled with examples of and references to spiritual father-son and father-child relationships. Many people are not aware just how common these are, so it is worth quoting some of them here. 

~~> Paul regularly referred to Timothy as his child: "Therefore I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ" (1 Cor. 4:17); 
~~> "To Timothy, my true child in the faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" (1 Tim. 1:2); 
~~> "To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" (2 Tim. 1:2).

He also referred to Timothy as his son: 
~~> "This charge I commit to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophetic utterances which pointed to you, that inspired by them you may wage the good warfare" (1 Tim 1:18);
~~>  "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:1); "But Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel" (Phil. 2:22). 

Paul also referred to other of his converts in this way: 
~~> "To Titus, my true child in a common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior" (Titus 1:4); 
~~> "I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment" (Philem. 10). 

None of these men were Paul’s literal, biological sons. 
Rather, Paul is emphasizing his spiritual fatherhood with them. 

Spiritual Fatherhood

Perhaps the most pointed New Testament reference to the theology of the spiritual fatherhood of priests is Paul’s statement, "I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:14–15). 

Peter followed the same custom, referring to Mark as his son: "She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark" (1 Pet. 5:13). 

The apostles sometimes referred to entire churches under their care as their children. 
Paul writes, "Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children" (2 Cor. 12:14); and, "My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you!" (Gal. 4:19). 

John said, "My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1); "No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth" (3 John 4). In fact, John also addresses men in his congregations as "fathers" (1 John 2:13–14). 

By referring to these people as their spiritual sons and spiritual children, Peter, Paul, and John imply their own roles as spiritual fathers. 

Since the Bible frequently speaks of this spiritual fatherhood, we Catholics acknowledge it and follow the custom of the apostles by calling priests "father." Failure to acknowledge this is a failure to recognize and honor a great gift God has bestowed on the Church: the spiritual fatherhood of the priesthood. 
Catholics know that as members of a parish, they have been committed to a priest’s spiritual care, thus they have great filial affection for priests and call them "father." 

Priests, in turn, follow the apostles’ biblical example by referring to members of their flock as "my son" or "my child" (cf. Gal. 4:19; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:1; Philem. 10; 1 Pet. 5:13; 1 John 2:1; 3 John 4). 

All of these passages were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and they express the infallibly recorded truth that Christ’s ministers do have a role as spiritual fathers. Jesus is not against acknowledging that. It is he who gave these men their role as spiritual fathers, and it is his Holy Spirit who recorded this role for us in the pages of Scripture. 

To acknowledge spiritual fatherhood is to acknowledge the truth, and no amount of anti-Catholic grumbling will change that fact. 

NIHIL OBSTAT: I have concluded that the materials
presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors.
Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004

IMPRIMATUR: In accord with 1983 CIC 827
permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004

Source: Catholic Answers

Papacy I (Primacy of Peter/Apostolic Succession)

Points to remember:

Scripture Specifics (source *1)

• In the Old Testament when God established His Covenant with the nation of Israel, He provided for a living, continuing authority in the Mosaic priesthood (2 Chronicles 19:11 and Mal 2:7) This authority did not end when the OT Scripture was written; rather, it continued as the safeguard and authentic interpreter of Sacred Scripture.
• When Christ established His Church, The New Israel, he set up a living, continuing authority to teach, govern, and sanctify His name. . . this same apostolic authority determined the canon of the Bible, and will preserve the teachings of Jesus Christ in all their fullness and uncorrupted from error, until the end of time.
• Among the twelve Apostles. St, Peter is clearly the head. Know Matthew 16:13-19 well!
• Jesus changes Simon's name to Peter, which means rock. Our Lord says this rock will be God's way of preserving the Church from corruption until the end of time. Our Lord knew St. Peter would be dead by 70A.D. Therefore, Christ must have intended the office of St. Peter to last until the end of time.
• Although all the Apostles as a group were given the power to "bind and to loose," in Matthew 18:18, St. Peter is given this power at the time he was given the "keys." St. Peter is given the "keys to the kingdom." The keys are the symbol of the authority of the chief official - the Prime Minister - of the Kingdom of David. This office implies dynastic succession.
• Also - read Isaiah 22 and note the STRONG similarity. The apostles and those of this time period would intrinsically understand the correlation to what Jesus says in Matthew 16:18. This is another strong reminder of how important it is to read the Bible in light of who the audience is (i.e.: Jesus was talking to) and what they understood, their culture, and their collective experience.

Verses to highlight in your Bible:

The Primacy of Peter

Isaiah 22:15-25 - Prophecy of the Catholic Papacy foretold in the Old Testament
Matthew 16:18 - Upon this rock (Peter) I will build my Church. And the gates of Hell can never overpower it

Note: Our Protestant brethren will say to understand Matthew 16:18, we have to get behind the English to the Greek. They will go on to say in Greek, the word for rock is petra, which means a large, massive stone. The word used for Simon’s new name is different; it’s Petros, which means a little stone, a pebble. The Catholic reply is to understand Matthew 16:18, we have to get behind the Greek to the Aramaic.
Although we don't know if the original Biblical manuscripts were in Aramaic or not, many scholars believe Our Lord probably spoke Aramaic because it was the native tongue for Jesus' immediate disciples.
In Aramaic there is only one word for "rock": Kepha. So he would have said:

"Blessed are you Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you but my Heavenly Father. So I say to you thou are "Kepha" and upon this "Kepha" I will build my Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it."

The only manuscripts we have of Matthew are written in Greek but Greek scholars—even non-Catholic ones—admit, the words petros and petra were synonyms in first century Greek. They meant "small stone" and "large rock" in some ancient Greek poetry, centuries before the time of Christ, but that distinction had disappeared from the language by the time Matthew’s Gospel was rendered in Greek. The difference in meaning can only be found in Attic Greek, but the New Testament was written in Koine Greek—an entirely different dialect. In Koine Greek, both petros and petra simply meant "rock." If Jesus had wanted to call Simon a small stone, the Greek lithos would have been used.

Matthew 16:19 - I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven
Luke 22:32 - Peter's faith will strengthen his brethren. (Note: The word "you" {I have prayed for "you"} in Greek is in the personal tense, not the plural "you" like 'all you apostles' tense.)
John 21:17 - Given Christ's flock as chief shepherd
Mark 6:7 - angel sent to announce the Resurrection to Peter
Luke 24:34 - Risen Jesus first appeared to Peter
Acts 1:13-26 - Peter headed meeting which elected Matthias to replace Judas
Acts 2:14 - Peter lead Apostles in preaching on Pentecost
Acts 2:41 - Peter received the first converts
Acts 3:6-7 - Peter performed the first miracle after Pentecost
Acts 5:1-11 - Peter inflicted the first punishment: Ananias and Saphira
Acts 8:21 - Peter excommunicated the first heretic, Simon Magnus
Acts 10:44-46 - Peter received a revelation to admit the Gentles into the Church
Acts 15 - Peter lead the first Catholic council in Jerusalem
Acts 15:7-12 - Peter spoke saying: "My brothers, he said, .... But we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus." The entire assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the gentiles." (pronounces the first dogmatic decision)
Galatians 1:18 - after his conversion, Paul visits the chief Apostle
Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:13 - Peter's name always heads the list of Apostles
Luke 9:32, Luke 8:46, Mark 16:7 - Peter and his companions
Matthew 18:21, Mark 8:29, Luke 12:41, John 6:69 - Peter spoke for the Apostles

Peter is mentioned 191 times in the New Testament. All the other apostles names combined are mentioned only 130 times. And the most commonly referenced apostle apart from Peter is John, whose name appears 48 times.

---

Apostolic Succession

2 Chronicles 19:11 - high priest is over you in everything of the Lord's
Malachi 2:7 - seek instruction from a priest, he is God's messenger
Acts 1:25-26 - Matthias takes Judas' apostolic ministry
Acts 1:20-22 - Let someone else take over his office. Out of the men who have been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was living with us, from the time when John was baptizing until the day when he was taken up from us, one must be appointed to serve with us as a witness to his resurrection.
Acts 14:23 - they appointed presbyters in each church
1 Corinthians 12:28-29 - God designated in the Church, apostles, prophets, teachers
Ephesians 2:20 - Church is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets
Ephesians 4:11 - God gave some as apostles, some as prophets ...
1 Timothy 3:1, 8; 1 Timothy 5:17 - qualifications for bishops, priests and deacons
1 Timothy 4:14 - gift conferred with the laying on of hands
1 Timothy 5:22 - do not lay hands too readily on anyone
2 Timothy 2:2 - what you heard from me, entrust to faithful teachers
Titus 1:5 - appoint presbyters in each town, as I directed

 Sources:
*1) Beginning Apologetics
      Catholic Apologetics Notebook (Peggy Cortez - private on-line library)
      AskaCatholic.com - Bible Verses

TOPIC: Eucharist Day 1

A) Simple Question:  What is the difference between the Catholic and the Protestant belief about communion?  
  Simple Answer   
• Catholics believe that communion is the literally Body and Blood of Christ. 

• Virtually all of (the over 30,000) Protestant denominations believe that Eucharist is only a symbol.  
 

B) Simple Questions: How can you defend that? Where is that in the Bible? 

Simple Answer   
1) In John 6  (which Catholics call the Bread of Life Discourse) Christ says it is His Real Body and Blood over 5X  
2) This is NOT the language of symbolism  
3) Many walked away because it "was too hard"

Jesus did not tell those who walked away to come back. He did not tell them they misunderstood and it was just a symbol (c.s.*)  
4) He turned to his 12 Apostles and asked if they wanted to go, too . . . . .

Peter said, “Master, to whom shall we go. You have the words of Eternal Life. LAGNIAPPE:  You could add:

the chapter and verse: John 6:66 to “Many walked away b/c it was too hard.”

(c.s.* = common sense)

Hand symbol hints:  
1) hold up six fingers  
2) Cut sign at throat (NOT the language of . . . )  
3) two fingers walking away  
4) use hand to turn your own head @ chin

sources:
• Bible
• CCC 
• Beginner Apologetics 1
How to Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith pgs 7,8
authors: Father Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham



LAGNIAPPE: 

1 Corinthians  Chapter 11 
St. Paul said:
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord.
28 A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. 
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. 

Cross Posted @ CIA